-이에요/예요

-이에요/예요 means 'to be' and links a noun to the subject in polite everyday speech, as in 'X is Y.'

문장 끝·말투Endings & speech style

Han: 의사 ends in a vowel, so it takes 예요; 이에요 is only for nouns ending in a consonant like 학생.

Examples

이 사람은 제 친구예요.This person is my friend.

이 가방은 얼마예요?How much is this bag?

저는 대학생이에요.I am a university student.

화장실이 어디예요?Where is the restroom?

-이에요/예요vs-입니다Same meaning but formal style (news, speeches, interviews); one form for all nouns: 저는 학생입니다.

-이에요/예요vsN이/가 아니에요The negative 'is not' needs the subject particle 이/가 before it: 저는 의사가 아니에요. Note the spelling 아니에요, not 아니예요.

-이에요/예요vs있어요있어요 shows existence or location ('there is / have'), not identity: 책이 있어요 (There is a book) vs 책이에요 (It is a book).

N (ends in consonant)+이에요

N (ends in vowel)+예요

학생 → 학생이에요, 의사 → 의사예요

Choose by the last sound of the noun: after a final consonant (받침) use 이에요, after a vowel use 예요. Never write 의사이에요 or 학생예요.
It attaches only to nouns (and pronouns, question words like 뭐, 누구, 어디, 얼마), never to verb or adjective stems.
The same form is used for statements and questions; only intonation changes (rising for questions).
The negative is not formed with this ending: use N이/가 아니에요 (spelled 아니에요, not 아니예요).

Wrong: ~~저는 의사이에요.~~

Right: 저는 의사예요.

의사 ends in a vowel, so it takes 예요; 이에요 is only for nouns ending in a consonant like 학생.

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